This year's BUILD is over.....

It's been back to work for most of us and hard to believe that this time last week we were in 70' weather thinking about caulking, painting, hammering, drives around to see post-Katrina clean-up and the many other volunteers we met who had also traveled from home base to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Everyone is talking about "next year" and we've tentatively set a date for week of February 16, 2009. It has been good to get to know the Bay/Waveland Habitat staff and we are thinking about a multi-year commitment.

Overall, most of us were encouraged by the progress in Mississsippi during the past year. Bay St. Louis is definitely in better shape -- from fewer FEMA trailers to no more debris piles to new highway lights to a sign that said "ask me about Girl Scout cookies." Civilization is returning.

Anyone that wants to be on the Paterson Habitat email list to get notices about trips to the gulf coast (both to New Orleans and Mississippi) should email pat@patersonhabitat.org.

And finally when you go to the Paterson Habitat website http://www.patersonhabitat.org/ check out some of the local opportunities to "Help Build It" and help build homes for your neighbors right here in northern New Jersey.

Barb Dunn