Krochet Kids intl. welcomes the Grace Fellowship community to attend our fourth annual gala - GALA NO. 4 - on May 31st @ 7:30 p.m. Come and join us for a night of celebrating the amazing ways the organization has grown and learn about what is ahead for KKi in the years to come. Hosted at our offices in Costa Mesa (1630 Superior Ave. Unit C) we will be discussing our model for empowerment through exhibits, videos, and a presentation given by co-founder & CEO Kohl Crecelius.

Learn more and purchase tickets for the evening here... http://krochetkids.org/gala-2012

We reported last month that the fire sprinkler system installation would commence in early April and we're happy to report that the fire sprinkler system installation is now about 65 % complete. The street connection, backflow device, detector check, underground water line to the building and the sprinklers in all of the office and class rooms have been installed. The remaining portion of the system’s installation will not be completed and made operational until all the interior improvements are completed later this year.

The building exterior improvement plans (which include required seismic safety upgrades) were submitted to the City of Costa Mesa in early April. You may recall that the City of Costa Mesa required us to bring the main building up to current seismic safety codes because of the change in occupancy classification related to the expansion of the sanctuary. The seismic upgrades significantly increased the scope of the exterior and interior improvements. We won't know the full cost impact of those upgrades until we've received fully approved plans back from the City. We've received the first round of plan comments from the City and have re-submitted the plans for what we hope will be the City's final comments. We'll start work on the exterior improvements within a week or so of securing the City's final approval, which is expected by the middle of May.

The interior improvement drawings are nearing completion and will be submitted to the City as soon as the exterior drawings are fully approved. While we wait for the City approval process to be finalized, we continue to work on fine-tuning cost estimates for all of the renovation line items. We expect to have completed a budget update based on approved drawings sometime towards the end of May or early June.

By now you’ve probably noticed some construction activity in our parking lot. In order to prepare the building for installation of overhead fire sprinklers, we’ve had to construct a new water line extending from McCormick Avenue to the east side of the building. Construction of the fire sprinkler system within the main building will start in April. While installation of the fire sprinkler system shouldn’t take more than a month or so, it won’t become operational until all the building improvements have been completed.

With regard to the main building renovation, the City of Costa Mesa has required us to re-design certain building elements to meet current seismic safety codes. The structural plans, which include the exterior building modifications, will be submitted to the City during the first week of April. Once the structural and exterior building modification plans are approved by the City, then we’ll submit plans for the building’s interior improvements. We're still on schedule to complete all of the renovation improvements by fall of this year.

The pureHOPE parenting event on March 18th has come and gone, but hopefully has launched great discussions in your homes.  Many of you have asked about additional resources to be made available on our website.  CLICK HERE to download a six page document that was handed out at the Parenting Event.

pureHOPE's website www.purehope.net has many other resources we think you will find helpful as well.