Work underway at Seneca Habitat worksite

When the weather turns warm, many people itch to get digging in the ground. For most, that means planting things. For Lou Ferrara, that means building a house. Ferrara is Construction Manager for Habitat for Humanity of Seneca County, which is constructing two homes this summer.Last week, Ferrara directed a work crew from Thurston Services that dug the cellar for Habitat’s 12th home at 113 East Bayard Street. Ed Thurston and his operator, Rusty, made quick work of digging the crawl space for the 1,680-foot home. And before the week was done, Brian Sparrow had installed the sewer, Gary Reynolds had completed the foundation prep and installed the footers. and all was ready for Phelps Cement to deliver the blocks for the foundation on Monday. Seneca Stone once again donated all the stone, Ferrara added. “Not bad for five days work,” Ferrara said proudly. “Good job to all involved.”Ferrara said he was anxious to get the Seneca Falls job under way, because he also will oversee Habitat’s 13th project this summer in Interlaken with Chuck Bosman, a member of the Covert town council. “So the quicker I can get them out of the ground, the better,” Ferrara explained. This week, workers will clear all the trees that are in front of property, most of which are in violation because they obstruct the line of vision in and out of the side street, Ferrara said, and members of Local 840 IBEW electrical union once again will wire the house. Volunteers will be needed to help work building the five-bedroom, 2/1.2-bath home after Easter, Ferrara saidMen and women, and members of college and church groups, civic organizations, and employee groups from area businesses especially are needed to volunteer. Volunteers will be needed on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 4 to 8 pm and Saturdays from 8 am to 3:30pm. “Everyone can be part of the Habitat mission to eliminate substandard housing, even if you don’t know how to build,” said board member Sarah Smolinski, who is the owner of Habitat’s 11th home. She and her husband, Chris, and family worked on building their home, as is required, and are anxious to “pay it forward” by helping construct the new home for Amber and Josh Goodman and their five children.In addition to construction work, volunteers are needed for a wide variety of activities including supporting construction, working with families, raising money and carrying out other activities. To sign up, contact Habitat for Humanity at 315-568-1190 or email [email protected] for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build homes or renovate existing homes to create decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged. Mortgage payments received by the affiliate are used to build more homes.Habitat for Humanity of Seneca County, NY, is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 2 million people.