Ramona Town Hall Renovation is on Schedule

Renovation of the west wing of Ramona Town Hall is moving along on schedule. Woody Kirkman, president of the board of trustees, announced at the May 18 meeting that rewiring has started in the room. As soon as it is completed, the next step will be framing and installing the drywall.

The sprinkler system has to be recertified at a cost of $1,500. Recertification should be done every five years and is now overdue, Kirkman said.

Trustee Bob Hailey talked about the school tours that are being conducted at the town hall. About 120 students and adults from James Dukes Elementary School went through the hall on May 6.

Hailey, Ken Serfass, who is the leader of the Ramona Town Hall Brass Band, and Kirkman led the tours.

Another 50 third- and fourth-graders are expected in the first week of June. Hailey said he will be working more closely with principals from all the schools in Ramona to set up a complete schedule for the 2011-12 school year.

Secretary/treasurer Sandee Salvatore announced that grant applications have been sent to San Diego Gas & Electric and Barona Casino and Resort. She said it will be six to eight weeks before notifications can be expected.

In other business at the meeting, Kirkman accepted a donation of $600 from the In Your Own Backyard group which held a craft sale in the town hall May 6 and 7. The group plans to hold another craft sale in early December in the town hall. Work on the west wing is expected to be completed by then, so the crafters will have twice as much space to display their wares. The group limits renting booth space at its shows to local crafters from the Ramona and Julian areas.

Plans also were discussed for the second annual “Ramona’s Got Talent” show slated for Sept. 10 at Ramona Outdoor Community Center. It will have a 1950s and '60s theme. Serfass said the band will play a traditional memorial tribute to the events of 9-11, then return to the stage as “Nick Swifty and the Nifty ‘50s Band.”

Honorary Mayor Sharon Davis is in charge of the talent show. There will be a limit of 15 acts, along with Elvis and Beatles look-alike contests, a vintage car display, a visit from the San Diego Charger Girls and a dance contest.

There also will be opportunity drawings for gift baskets. Show tickets in advance are $30, which includes a diner-style dinner. Tickets at the gate will be $35.

For more information, go to www.ramonatownhall.com.The next board meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. June 15 in the east wing of the Town Hall.