Initial Site Survey Approved
AAAP Meets With Washington Co. Commissioners to Discuss South Hills Observatory
by Wayne Gondella

On October 8th, Dick Haddad and myself finally met with the Washington County Commissioners to discuss building a Club Observatory in their Mingo Creek Park location. I asked several officers of the club to try to attend as well, and Larry McHenry, John Holtz, Dave Smith and Ed Moss were able to be there for support. Together, we gave a fine presentation to the two Commissioners in attendance, John Bevic and Bracken Burns, plus the Park Planning Commission.

The presentation was a big success and the idea was received with open arms. The Commissioners gave us the go-ahead to have a formal survey done and submitted to the County to delineate the exact area we would need. Our thanks go out to member Dick Haddad for all his work prior to this in getting the right doors opened for us and a receptive ear placed in our direction. Also, through his efforts, he and other associates will be placing considerable financial backing behind the club to help make this observatory a reality.

I will be meeting soon with members of the observatory committee to discuss size and space requirements of the building and grounds, and to determine and place markers on the hill for the surveyor to reference to. The formal survey should be in the County’s hands before mid-November.

Hopefully, there will be more good news to follow in the next Guide Star.