“This is the 101st year of our church! Would you believe we finally got a sidwalk across the front of the church?” That was Zion Lutheran Church’s Pastor Dave talking in his greeting on Sunday morning. “I told my Baptist Pastor friend Harlan Vall about this project last night when I talked to him up in Minnesota. You know what he said? ‘I’ve worked with a church committee like that!’ Tongue in cheek, of course!” This project didn’t take quite that long--ask Charlie Canning, the church’s coordinator for this particular grant. But, hard work and a little humor are always appreciated. The men and women of Zion Lutheran Church received support for the sidewalk tile from “Thrivent for Lutherans,” a fraternal organization that supports church projects, but Zion’s folks put plenty of sweat equity into this grant project which was accomplished on October 6 and 7, 2006.

Zion Lutheran Church Completes Sidewalk Thrivent Grant Project

Click each photo to enlarge.

Pete Midgarden, Charlie Canning, Steve Vasko, Ralph Utter, and Milt Luoma make decisions on precisely where that new sidewalk will go.

Pete Midgarden, Steve Vasko, Milt Luoma, and Ralph Utter finish surveying that critical first line marked by string.

Curtis Williams talks to Pete Midgarden as Charlie Canning, Steve Vasko, Ralph Utter, and Darlene Tasso anchor and prepare to mark sod for cutting.

Wonder of wonders! In 2005 much time was spent in just cutting sod to put down a “little” sidewalk. Pete Midgarden, Milt Luoma, Ralph Utter, and Steve Vasko check out Curtis Williams and his sod-cutter.

Curtis Williams, now gassed up and ready to go to remove the sod so the sidewalk tile can be laid.

Curtis Williams looks for an orange-spot line laid down in that grass with the help of that string minutes before hand. Pete Midgarden and Steve Vasko look on as Curtis sets the tines to guide the machine along the sidewalk line.

What would have taken a good day in 2005 is accomplished in record time.

Darlene Tasso and Ernie Burnett smile broadly as he grass just peels away. That’s Charlie Canning in the background placing cut sod in his truck.

Once the sod has been taken out comes the task of leveling the pathway, especially over the sewage holding tank which had a slight “hump.” Curtis and Milt look on as Pete and Darlene put shovels to work.

Ralph Utter is soon on his knees to level the pathway.

Leveling involves some raking (Pete Midgarden), some shoveling (Milt Luoma), some troweling (Ralph Utter), and some encouragement (Charlie Canning).

Steve Vasko brought two different trailers in for this event.

While Steve is pulling some poly off one of the tile stacks, Charlie Canning, Darlene Tasso, and Milt Luoma are busy placing tile along the pathway, Ralph Utter still leveling and getting ready for the big job of laying.

Charlie Canning hands tiles to Darlene Tasso.

With tile near by, Ralph Utter begins that task of keeping things square and in line. Milt Luoma hands tiles to Ralph, Darlene Tasso and Charlie Canning on that trailer keep the tile coming, and Pete Midgarden on the wheel barrow and Steve Vasko by the stop sign continue to position tile for easier laying down toward the end of the job line.

Milt and Pete eye Ralph’s meticulous alignment and encourage him to keep on that line.

It takes fuel to drive that sidewalk project! On Day 1 Henrie Burnett readies hardy nourishment for the outside crew. Do you smell that Burnett soup?!

Time for lunch. When will the last of the group get in for some serious noontime work?

Work continues and on Day 2 more strength and energy in the making with Vera Avera. Yes, there’s more in the back seat and trunk--it is Vera, you know.

Ernie Burnette and Milt Luoma are working with red tile on Day 2--that’s Ralph Utter squaring things up.

Pete and Charlie did some knee work too. That’s Steve Vasko with the tile shovel squaring up the sidewalk pathway line. Yes, that’s Morgan Johnson on the left, helping Grampa Steve and the Silverhill Zion guys.

Just so you know where it happened, it was right here in Silverhill at 4th Avenue and 7th Street.

Vera was out checking the crew’s status so she could time that lunch just right.

On the side Milt Luoma and Ralph work on getting the last red tile to line up and lay flat. Ernie is there to consult for advice.

Simultaneously on the front, Pete and Steve and Morgan check the last piece to go down on the west side of the project.

Charlie Canning measures tile and sets the blade depth to customize one of those tiles for a special spot.

Day 2’s morning has gone quickly by. The crew, washed up and ready, prepares for Vera’s cuisine.

Martha Canning gets the pop ready in the foreground while Vera “fusses” with the table setting. It doesn’t bother Ralph and Charlie--they are already in line.

A little food in the tummy and work resumes on Day 2. It is the last inning. Charlie Canning gets ready to move just a little more leveling sand at the trailer, Pastor Dave looks on to ready another shovel of sand at the wheel barrow, Ralph Utter receives a tile from Mil Luoma while Ernie Burnnet brings another tile to the setting crew.

“Charlie,” Pete says, “can you rock that rock?” You can tell the job is almost done.

When Ralph can see the end of the job, there is no slowing him down. Milt keeps Ralph supplied, one tile at a time.

“Oh, no! Who measured this?!” Is it possible that all these guys see the problem at the same time? Truth--have you ever been on a job where everything was square and ended with completely no cutting of the last piece. It was all planned for and not a surprise.

Yes! The job is done and you can take a look yourself if you want to drive by.